Success Stories

Cosmopolitan Hotels, Renfrewshire*
Saving natural resources and saving money!
 

"The Green Tourism Business Scheme membership has created a good deal more awareness amongst members of the team with regard to the way we operate and our impact on the environment".

Martin Kemp, Managing Director of Cosmopolitan Hotel Group

Cosmopolitan Hotels Group have highlighted their environmental repsonsibility by taking steps to conserve natural resources. So, not only are they serving their guests best interests, they are also acting in the interests of the environment. As a result of commissioning a survey from McCann Associates, the group has dramatically reduced their water usage so much so that the yearly savings amount to just under £50,000 a year.

Their commitment to environmental practice has resulted in the Erskine Bridge, the Normandy and the Dean Park Hotels all achieving Silver awards from the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS).

The Erskine Bridge Hotel, the Normandy Hotel and the Dean Park Hotel are three Cosmopolitan Hotels situated in Renfrewshire. These hotels, owned by Cosmpolitan Hotels, were surveyed by McCann Associates to look for potential water cost savings. They were all involved in the project, which consisted of two phases and started last July.

Phase 1 consisted of McCann Associates undertaking a study of water consumption behaviour. Water usage data was collected from all 3 hotels. The initial stage of the study involved setting up a spreadsheet to study water consumption behaviour over a 4 to 6 week period. The water meters at each hotel were read on a weekly basis and the data recorded on the spreadsheet. During this period all water usage points (taps, showers and W/C’s) at each hotel were inspected and flows measured (litres/minute).

Analysis showed that the Dean Park Hotel was using considerably more water than the other 2 hotels. The Dean Park was subjected to a leakage detection survey. This was carried out at midnight to take advantage of minimal activity and low water demand. The survey successfully located a continuous water loss through a failed valve. A repair was carried out within 24 hours.

The elimination of excessive water loss across the group led to the second phase in the project. This phase focussed on optimising water usage within the hotels. Measurement of the volumes of water (litres/minute) delivered through taps, showers and W/C’s taken during the initial phase indicated scope for reduction. Water conservation equipment was fitted.

Water conservation devices installed throughout the hotels consisted of

• push taps in public restrooms, preventing taps being left on;
• Flow restrictors fitted on all tap outlets reducing consumption but not compromising guest or user’s comfort;
• and Sensor activated flushing in gent’s urinals eliminating unnecessary flushing frequencies.

The total cost of water conservation equipment fitted at the 3 hotels was less than £10,000. The pay back period for water conservation devices is rapid i.e. recoverable within 6 to 12 months.

Dean Park Hotel 

A leak within the hotel was ascertained and a repair was implemented within 24 hours. Calculations show that the reduction in water loss will save the company £31,000 on their water bill per year.

Erskine Bridge Hotel 

Water conservation equipment was fitted which will reduce water usage by approximately 20%. This reduction will realise a saving from their water bill of £8000 per year.

Normandy Hotel 

The hotel was losing water via cistern overflows and the main storage tank. Repairs implemented to these to eliminate waste of water. This reduction of water waste along with water conservation equipment fitted at the hotel indicates a reduction of 30% in water usage. The combined reduction will realise a saving of £10,000 per year.

The success of this project is due to the serious commitment of senior management at the Cosmopolitan Group. Notwithstanding the obvious cost savings, other benefits are also realised.

• The hotel group can clearly market their environmental awareness by demonstrating their controlled use of a natural resource i.e. water.
• Secondary savings can be anticipated through a reduced requirement for hot water.
• The next stage of the project will be potential down sizing of the water meters to reduce standing charges and staff awareness training, which could save a further 10%.

Martin Kemp the managing director of the Cosmopolitan Group commented:

"The spreadsheets instigated by McCann Associates have proved invaluable in monitoring water consumption both at the hotel and remotely.  Should usage per customer exceed the trend, it will be spotted immediately.  We are then able to identify leaking overflows which means that usage of water has been greatly reduced.  The service received from McCann Associates has been first rate."

The group has retained McCann Associates on an ongoing basis who continue to monitor consumption and pursue further savings.

It is staggering to calculate that if the Cosmopolitan Group had not acted in 2003, they would have incurred unnecessary water costs of £250,000 by 2007. And this money would have literally gone down the plughole!

For further information, please contact:

Martin Kemp
Managing Director
Cosmopolitan Hotels
Normandy Hotel
Inchinnan Road
Renfrew
PA4 9EJ

Tel: 0870 246 1780

Email: martinkemp@cosmopolitan-hotels.com
Website: www.cosmopolitan-hotels.com

Case study added October 2004